You'll have fun, now, ya hear

 

You are about to make me a monkey.

 

Eddie07S, what are your cold tire pressures for LRP?

 

I'm not real good at tracking this kind of info but it was in the range of 29 left front, 32 right and 33 rears. Then I tweak it from there. My target is 27 front and 26 rear.

Just finished with 2 days at WGI. This new open track format was a lot of fun. And those Bridgestone tires are crazy good. I'll post more when I get home.

 

Open track format? How does that work? Hope I can stop by LRP on the 10th to check out event.

 

There are several event organizers that run an open track format. One of the more popular ones is Trackmasters. This is basically 8 hrs of open track. You go out and come in whenever you want. However, all of the drivers have to be at a very high level; advanced solo at a minimum. And they are generally known to the event organizers.

The funny thing is that I actually spend less time on the track in any time out and probably no more than the 2 hours per day that the more structured events have. But it is more relaxed.

Say, about seat sliders. I looked around at what people have their seats mounted to. A lot are using sliders and I found one (BK ?) that is designed for this. So while I hear what they are telling the higher end drivers, not everyone (including instructors) go along with it.

 

The Brey Krause seat brackets are made to attach directly to the R56 seat sliders. I have those, but I mounted the seat directly to the floor. It works better since the width of head side supports hit the B pillar. Makes the seat position slightly lower.

Having the seat upholstered to fit the worn spots, should be bamck soon

I guess I will have to move up a couple of groups to attend those events.

 

Several things to work towards to get into one of these groups. Do some events with GVC and become known by them. Know the track and be aware of everything going on around you and with other cars. Most importantly, be someone that the other people want to be out on the track with. The instructor that signed me off said his criteria was whether he would want to be on the track with me. He drives a 700 hp stock car. I was humbled.

 

So, last Wednesday and Thursday I was at WGI with GVC/PCA and I have to say that these tires/wheels are freakin' amazing! I'm referring to the Bridgstone RE71Rs and the 15" wheels I got from Gary. The data says that I am ~3.5 sec faster than I was in June with the Toyo R888s. What is more amazing is that this was with a much smaller tire. The Toyos are 225-45x17s and the Bridgestones are 205-50x15s. With that, my best time was a 2:23.3, which is about 1.5 sec faster than my previous best time (before the repaving). Also, I upped my top speed by about 3-4 mph, which is probably a result of being an inch lower, better "gearing" and being faster though the esses.

I know the new pavement improved times, but a major factor with these tires is how they instill confidence, their feedback and predictability. This is something that is much better than the Toyos or the Dunlop ZIIs. And they are pretty quiet. Overall, I was pulling over 1.1g in most corners. While this is a touch higher than the other tires, it is more the fact that I am able to do it in most corners instead of just a few corners. This kinda surprised me because it came so easily and I attribute the improvement to the confidence factor.

This all makes turns 10 and 11 even more fun. I'm on the edge of being able to take 10 flat out after coming out of T9, but I need to be careful as that depends on how I take T9. If I do T9 well then I will have too much speed to take T10 with just a slight lift. For T11 I moved my turn-in to be a few feet earlier. This gets me down into the apex and my exit is still towards the end of the track-out rumbles. With that it takes only a light touch of the brakes going into the turn and I can carry more speed. One thing I have noticed is that a lot of people are not apexing T11. It is almost like they are afraid to get down in there.

I also tried a different line though the toe which I call "the fast and early apex" and then let the car spiral outward as you go up and around the turn. I didn't seem to lose anything by doing this, but I didn't gain anything either. I then settled back into an early turn-in and following the curb around. This turn is just a pain to take in a MINI no matter how I take it.

So, tires that are cheaper (half the price), at least the same grip, better gearing, lower car, more confidence, better wear, what's not to like?

So, the downside. Brakes. Higher speeds and smaller wheels meant much higher brake temperatures and warped rotors. It was ok with the larger wheels, which allowed more air flow. But now I need to get serious about putting in ducting.

As for the event, it was joint effort between GVC and PCA and was an open track format that PCA has done. It had structure as in the passing rules but only two loosely defined run groups; fast and slow but you could run in either depending on your comfort level. All of the drivers were high end, so it worked well. There were some very fast cars with fast drivers, including that new GT3 RSR that I had been out with before and people described as "unnatural". There was also a new Ford Focus RS that was also very fast. But there were also cars that were in my league which gave me some cars to run with. Overall, a nice event with a different flavor than the usual structured, teaching events.

 

Interesting write-up. Sounds like your really getting the handle on the MINI.

 

I had so much fun at this event. The event is run super professional. I would run with the Audi guys any time. Got the car detailed before going to the track but too bad on my way up it was raining crazy for about 3hr out of the 4.5hr drive.



First day wasn't that great for me. Started with a bolt in my rear tire. So had to go get it patched. $27 later and the car was back. First session was cancelled due to a car losing a wheel on the track. Second session didn't get much track time because i went out 15-20 mins late out of the 30min and let the instructor drive for the first 3 laps, so he gets a feel for the car and by the time i got into the car, i was only able to do 1 or 2 laps and the cool down lap. 3rd session missed it completely thinking the end of the session was the start. I was talking to other mini owner which had back luck at the track. Belt popped and the tensioner went with it. He spent the two days for the most part getting his car back up and running. he was able to get one session in before he went home.

Second day I went with purpose. I made sure i put the schedule on my phone and told my phone to remind me 10 mins before it was time to get on track. Took full advantage of all the sessions. After about session 2 i notice my muffle had a leak somewhere and it turns out it was the flex pipe. I took it out on track for the 3rd and 4th session, but at the 4th session it seems like the leak was pointed in the direction of the passengers left foot and i guess it made the firewall so hot that it started to melt some kind of protective cover the car has by the foot well and close to the end of the 4th session the car started to smoke from this thing melting away. We had to pull over and the instructor just wanted to make sure it wasn't oil leaking and i was trying to tell him it wasn't but just to make sure we jumped out the car lol. It funny because i got so nervous i even forgot to to take the steering wheel off to make it easier to get out. Guess i have to practice Emergency egress from the car since it really difficult to get in and our.



So i had to drive home with more or less an open header car. 4.5hr with he windows open to get the melted smell out. I haven't checked if there is anything else that got damaged due to heat but the car runs and drive fine besided the engine running rich alittle, but the car drives and runs just fine with a 200 dba exhaust note lol. guess ill wait to get a replacement and check everything out all at one time.

Flex pipe leak was ontop

 

WG T7 is the worst i felt like the car couldn't go up that hill lol. my foot was Flat and nothing. tried it in second gear and still the same just the car felt more stressed out. If there is one thing that video doesn't show is elevation. rear view video does show it really good. I had such a blast. I really want to sign up for LRP but really scared to loose my money due to the car being loud.

 

Wgi is my fav along with laguna seca.

Try toe uphill a little wider.

 

You do not need to be concerned about noise on the 13th since it is an non-muffled event. Tuesday are test and tune days at LRP. Hope to see you there.

 

Wow.....if your in 2nd gear in the toe your way over slowing.

 

Hey, glad to hear that you had a great time!

Most of the major car clubs (BMW, Audi, Porsche) take these driving schools very seriously and they work hard to make sure you learn something and not just marking laps. And there is a lot to learn. Again, very glad you found them to be at a high level of professionalism.

T7 or "the toe", is the worst turn on the whole track for a MINI. As Slinger said, try taking it a little wider. Start the turn in just a couple of feet later and aim to be about a car width or a little more away from the inside curb at the point the uphill starts. Just after this you will probably need to get on the gas, but still don't start picking up speed until you get to the apex,which is late in this turn. You can use the hill to scrub speed and tighten up the turn so you can get into the apex.

As for power in that turn, you might be overbraking going into it, but if you are in second and flat out, something doesn't seem right with your power. If I connect that to the fact you burned out a new flex pipe, I would make a wild guess that your engine is running too rich. Just a thought.

At any rate:

 

Eddie, s-driver, veggie, old track buddies, I just bought a 718 Boxster to be picked up in December. Cannot wait to drive it at 60 mph, the fastest allowed here.

 

Slinger - go you!

What, the car comes with a speed governor?

Let us know when it comes in.

 

It's the 800 or so speed cameras they have all around this little area that worries me.

It's going to be my fourth new Porsche from the infamous emissions cheaters. You have seen number 2 and 3.

Could not afford the new 911 here.

 

I thought you signed up for the Patroon event. I just realized it the SCDA event. Are they event getting on track that day? Looks like they are just going to be on the Skidpad?

 

Yah i just tried it once and i was at the limiter.

 

Hey, we need more details. Model? Color? Other options? Etc?

 

There are 2 SCDA events that day. Morning is skid pad; afternoon is track:
http://www.scda1.com/event/lime-rock...-pm-unmuffled/

 

718 boxster speed yellow, agate leather interior, black roof. About $30k of options too short to bother, since my low end bmw X1 with no options have them as standard. What porsche does not have options? But at least pdk & the carrera rims comes standard. Everything else they get u where it hurts.

 

I signed up for the afternoon track event